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By late November, some areas of the country are already experiencing freezing temperatures and are blanketed in snow. If you haven’t already started preparing for the onset of winter weather, it’s time you make these preparations before the cold sets in. Here are some things every homeowner should do each and every year.

Keep a Vigilant Eye on the Weather

Although you might not expect sub-freezing temperatures early in the season, just one solid freeze can ruin anything from those garden hoses left attached and filled with water to those gutters you forgot to clean. Accurate readings of temperatures where you live are vital. Remember, just because you checked on the Weather Channel for data on your zip code, it doesn’t mean you won’t experience much colder temperatures where you actually live. It’s time to invest in an accurate thermometer like those reviewed on https://temperaturesensei.com/best-indoor-outdoor-thermometers/.

Clean Those Gutters NOW

If you haven’t gotten a lot of late summer or autumn rain, you might not think the weight of those leaves filling your gutters will do much damage. Unfortunately, that is erroneous thinking. As soon as the freezing rains or snows begin, those gutters will quickly fill up because the leaves will prevent adequate drainage. Gutters will break and/or fall, leaving your foundation and roofing system exposed. Keep an eye on that thermometer mentioned above to warn you when it’s time to get up that ladder to avoid any issues with your roof.

Put Everything Outdoors Up and Away

Not only can those hoses crack and break, but they can get in the way of shoveling walks and drives if left lying haphazardly around. The best advice is to unscrew them from the faucet, shake all excess water out and then put them somewhere above freezing to be stored for the winter. This includes putting any patio furniture or other outdoor items away that can potentially be ruined by heavy snows and freezing temperatures.

Weatherproof Doors and Windows

Weather stripping is not expensive, but it sure can save you much of the high cost of heating your home in the winter. Make sure to inspect every bit of weather stripping on every exterior window and door to ensure it isn’t cracked, torn or missing. This one task can save you several hundred dollars a season!

Clean Chimneys If You Have a Woodburning Stove or Fireplace

Too many house fires begin in chimneys, so if you use a fireplace or woodburning stove, have a professional chimney sweep inspect your chimney/s each and every year before you light a fire for the first time this season. Creosote buildup can quickly ignite and many home fires could have been prevented with a bit of precaution.

It’s already unseasonably cold in many areas and winter storms are already making their way down from Canada. The sooner you start preparing for winter weather, the better your protection will be. Get a handle on it now, keep a watch on those arctic temperatures, and once all is said and done, you can safely sit back to enjoy the upcoming holiday season. Remember what they say. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so get on it and you’ll have a healthy winter.

When you’re preparing to go out on the hunt, you don’t want your equipment to let you down. While it’s often overlooked, what you’re wearing on your feet matters just as much as your compound bow or rifle because when you don’t have sure footing, your aim will not hit the mark. If you spend hours tracking your prey before taking aim, then you must protect your feet from the uneven ground while on the move.

Here are a few things to look for with hunting boots.

Shaft Length

The shorter the shaft, the less support there is for the heel and lower leg. It’s far easier to twist your ankle or strain yourself when your foot is lacking the essential support it requires. A shaft length of 7-inches or more provides ample length. The ankle must be well-supported with sufficient padding to prevent it rolling when on uneven ground. Hunting often involves moving over rocks and riverbeds, so the boot can easily get caught up when moving.

Waterproofing

Waterproofing through the sole and the upper ensures that when it rains, your feet won’t get damp. It’s much more likely you will start to have chafing issues with your boots if your feet don’t always stay warm and dry. This also goes for the socks you choose to put on your feet too. Therefore, the boot’s upper must be waterproof and the synthetic or leather material should be designed to keep out moisture from undergrowth and brush when out on the prowl.

Insulation

The insulation comes mostly from the lining inside the boot. GoreTex lining is reliable, but major manufacturers also have their own patented insulation brands that work fine too. Some boots are rated for winter conditions because they have greater amounts of insulation (usually double), but they may get too warm in the summer. Therefore, for anyone who hunts in the summer and winter, it is best advised to own different pairs of hunting boots to avoid their feet getting either too cold or too hot.

A thick tongue and padded collar provides cover from exposure to the elements. These parts of the boot have insulation too and provide greater comfort as a result. When either the tongue or collar are poorly insulted, they’re too flimsy and lack warmth. So, remember to look at this aspect when considering a boot brand and model.

Tread

A rubber sole that’s thicker will handle all types of surfaces with ease. The chunky lugs help grip the surface while the gaps between lugs assists water flow making crossing streams easily done without dampening the boot. Sometimes, a polyurethane midsole is included which gives the boot a bit more heft and purchase on the ground.

There are many decent brands to consider for a pair of hunting boots. Columbia, Irish Setter, Kenetrek, and Lowa all make respectable models. Consider the components like lacing, insulation, upper material and build quality when choosing a hunting footwear, so you can enjoy many years of reliable wear.

We all know how it is to shop offline. The pain of getting out of the house and going to the store to get the product we want is one of the most tiring things to do. But life has been made so much easier for us. We can order anything we want with just a click of a button. Online shopping has slowly gained popularity these days, and many people prefer to shop online for the various advantages it has over offline shopping. But let’s face the fact that we cannot trust everything on the internet. Online shopping is great, but you have to be careful so that you don’t flush your money down the drain. You can use some of the below tips for safe online shopping.

Use trusted and familiar sites:

There are certain sites which can be trusted. Try to shop from sites which are popular like Amazon, eBay etc. Such sites can be trusted, and they also offer return policies if your products are not of good quality. Do not be tricked into buying from some site you have never heard of like the picture they show on the website will never match the products they send you.

Do not give away all your personal information:

Online retailers are interested in your personal information, and you can give them your name and mail id, but you need to be careful if they happen to ask you for your social insurance number. No one will ask you for such details, and you need to be cautious not to give such information to the retailers.

Strong passwords:

Try not to use the same password for all the websites you log into. If your login information gets stolen, you are likely to lose the other accounts too. So try to have a strong password which is not commonly used. Have passwords which include both numeric and alphanumeric characters.

Check if the website is secure:

One of the best ways to check if your website is secure or not is to look at the “https” on the URL of the page. You can know that the page is secure when it has that extra “s” added. You can also look out for that padlock symbol which tells you that the site is secure.

Don’t believe extraordinary discounts:

It is true that retailers announce discounts to attract customers, but sometimes they are too good to be true. You need to take a moment and think if the deal is reasonable or not. Do not end up spending a lot of money thinking you are getting a discount.

Never click on un-trusted pop-up ads:

There are many scammers out there who lure you into clicking the pop-up ads. You cannot trust all the sites you are redirected to through the pop-up ads. Make sure that you have an ad-blocker enabled so that all the pop-ups get disabled.

Ever since the internet came around, life has been made so much easier. Now you can get something delivered to your house with just a click of a button. But when it comes to shopping clothes many of us prefer to go to the store and make the purchases as we are worried about the size and the fit. How often have we eagerly waited for clothes which we had ordered online, only to see that the size is either too small or too big that you had to alter the product you had bought? With the below tips you can now shop for clothes online and get the perfect fit:

Know your size:

If you happen to have a measuring tape lying around in your house, use that and measure your size. You can make a rough copy of your measurements and see which size matches the description that is given on the website. There may be slight variations, but the size should fit you just fine. You need to make sure that you take the measurement of your waist, hip and bust. Write down these measurements so that they come handy and also make sure to keep your measurements updated.

Read the size information given on the website:

Almost every retailer provides size information, and you need to read it. If you are planning to spend your money on something you have to make sure that you explore the site properly before giving them your money. Not all brands and websites will have the same size. For example, small in brand x would not be the same in brand y. So you need to look at the size information given on the website and make your purchases accordingly.

Order from online stores which offers return policies:

There are times when even if we order the correct size, we end up getting the wrong size. In such cases, you can always return the product you have purchased, and this is possible only if that website has a return policy. So before you buy something, check for the return options and then make the purchases.

Read the reviews:

One of the best ways to find out if the product you are buying is of good quality is to read the reviews. Customers who have bought that product earlier would have mentioned if the product turned out to be just like how it was shown in the picture or if the product had a terrible fit. Reading the review and seeing the rating of the product will give you a rough understanding of the clothes you are going to buy.

Final words:

Online shopping has given us the opportunity to buy clothes anywhere in the world and if we are careful enough we can avail various discounts with just a click of a button. But before you spend your money, try to check out for the size of the product and then make your purchases.

Brunette babes no longer have to miss out on the fun multicolored hair trend.

While unicorn hair, rainbow roots and the like require tons of bleaching, oil slick hair looks amazing with much, much less work — that means less damage to your tresses! Best of all, you can personalize the trend and make it more or less bold.

Oil slick hair resembles, you guessed it, spilled oil on the road and it’s so fun. Check out some photos and an at-home oil slick hair tutorial below.

With the cold weather just around the corner, it is now socially acceptable to have hot chocolate just about every night. Who doesn’t love that creamy, rich, chocolate haven that pours from your mug like Willy Wonka’s waterfall? Don’t lie. You’ve been looking forward to this all year. Try spicing your mugs up this season with some adult-twists on the timeless classic:

1. FIREBALL HOT CHOCOLATE FROM FERALKITCHEN.COM

Heat the milk in a microwave for 1-2 minutes (or until hot), and being preparing the hot chocolate in a separate mug. Mix the cocoa powder, sugar and salt together then pour in the hot milk. Add the Fireball to the mug and stir. Top with whip cream and add your garnish to make it beautiful – now brave the cold!

In a medium saucepan, begin heating (but not boiling) 1 cup milk, the sugar, cocoa powder and salt. As the mixture warms, keep stirring in the remaining milk. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Next, whisk in the pumpkin puree and spice, then take the pan off the stove just before the mixture begins to boil. Quickly add the Kahlua, add your toppings and enjoy!

3. RED WINE HOT CHOCOLATE FROM IMMAEATTHAT.COM

Combine milk and chocolate chips in a saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly until the chocolate chips melt into the milk. Pour the red wine and heat the mixture until hot. Pour into mugs, top with whipped cream and smile! This recipes makes about 2 mugs of delight.

Over medium heat, warm the milk then add the Ibarra chocolate, cocoa powder and sugar. Once chocolate dissolves, whisk and season with cayenne pepper (start with small increments and season to taste). Pour the milk into 2 large mugs and add 2 ounces of tequila to each. Top with whipped cream and ground cinnamon if you would like! Delicioso! Remember when using a shaker, use a good one, too often I have been using below par shakers only to end up with the drink on my clothes instead of in my mug.

6. ANDES MINT HOTCHATA FROM THECOOKIEROOKIE.COM

This one is easy…place everything in a crock pot on high until ingredients melt together (don’t forget to stir!). Once everything is nice and melted, heat the mixture on low and stir every 20 minutes…now drink up! For a large crowd, double the recipe and share the cheer.

8. AMARETTO HOT CHOCOLATE FROM DELIGHTFULEMADE.COM

Heat the milk, chocolate chips, sugar and salt over medium-low heat and whisk often. Once warmed through (not boiling), add the vanilla and stir. Pour mixture into 3 mugs, add 1 oz Amaretto each then top with toppings and cheers your friends!

9. NUTELLA HOT CHOCOLATE FROM BUZZFEED.COM

Quick prep hot chocolate
½ oz Brandy
½ oz Frangelico

Directions:

Combine in a mug and enjoy the sweet bliss of Nutella…without the Nutella!

Nobody throws a party like Kacey Musgraves. The GRAMMY Award-winning singer recently went all out for her own 27th birthday, but that party was nothing compared to the one she helped put on for one very important fan.

Three-year-old Logan Todd is battling an incurable form of cancer in her brain stem, so Kacey got together with the non-profit Love Your Melon and entertainer Steven Salyers to put on the event of a lifetime for Logan.

The party featured tiaras, cupcakes, Disney princess talk and a special performance from Kacey.

1. Travel when you have the chance.
It has been proven in a study done by Cornell University, that people who spend money on experiences and travel are happier than those who spend it on material things. Experience the world. If you live in the South, go see the North. If you live in the West, visit the East. If you are really adventurous, visit a foreign country. You’ll never be sorry you took a trip to see the Grand Canyon, but you may be sorry you purchased that depreciating vehicle.

2. Take care of your skin.
This may sound ridiculous, but taking care of your skin in your youth ensures healthier skin as you age. Use sunscreen to help prevent premature aging as well as skin cancer. Learn how to wash your face properly and do it!

3. Learn a foreign language.
Not only does this stimulate your brain, but it is also impressive to your children and grandchildren. Plus, you never know when it may come in handy.

4. Get into the habit of exercising.
Trust us, we know the couch is very comfortable and is calling your name. But if you develop the habit of exercising at an early age, you will want to continue it as long as you can. Exercising is a proven method in reducing high blood pressure, maintaining blood sugar levels and strengthening bones.

5. Leave a toxic situation.
If this doesn’t apply to you, that’s great! But there are a lot of people who stay in terrible jobs or relationships much longer than they need to. Nothing ages us more or makes unhappier than toxic relationships. Make it a point to get out getting help if you need to.

6. Stop caring what others think about you.
You are unique and no one else is like you, so act the way you want to act. (within reason, don’t get too crazy!) First of all, no one is thinking about you as often as you may think, so live like no one is watching and enjoy your life.

7. Stop worrying.
Worrying doesn’t do anyone any good at all. Not only that, but most things we worry about never even come to fruition. Don’t worry, be happy!

8. Volunteer.
Whether it is at your child’s school, the soup kitchen or through a volunteer-based organization, volunteering changes you. There is nothing more fulfilling than giving of yourself and it makes you more appreciative of what you have. Want to further enrich your life through volunteering? Take along your children or grandchildren. They will always remember those times spent with you.

9. Spend time with your grandparents.
Spend time with them and ask them questions about their life. You never know how long they are going to be here and they are your greatest resource when it comes to family history.

10. Pledge to work less.
No one ever says, “Gee, I wish I had worked more.” But a whole lot of people get to the end of their lives and say, “I wish I had spent more time with my family/traveling/doing the things I love.” Find a way to put down the spreadsheets and so more of the things you enjoy.